Process of making metallic casks



Dec. 17, 1929. v A, J. MUH'LBA'CH 1,740,196

' PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC CASKS Filed May 15, 1926 Livy/W;

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED J. MUHLBACH, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A COR- PORATION OF CALIFORNIA PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC CASKS Application fired May 15,

This invention relates to metallic casks and process of making the same.

An object of the invention is to produce a unitary integral metallic cask or bilged barrel body by an improved process, consisting in first cutting out a blank of sheet metal and forming the same to provide a substantially cylindrical tube, then forming the cylindrical tube into bilge shape by a series of expanding operations separately applied to different zones of the cylindrical tube to thereby effect a step by step gradual drawing of the metal into bilge form without imposing excessive strains upon the metal or unequally drawing the same at different points along the barrel body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cask or barrel of bilge form made up from a unitary blank, which has integral corrugations encircling the same at spaced points along the bilge surfaces.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal, sectional view of the cask at the finish of the first expanding operation, showing in dotted lines the cylindrical blank prior to the expanding operation, and illustrating in elevation the die sections for effecting the expansion of the tube. Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the die sections illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the cask as it appears after the finish of the first expanding operation. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the tube at the end of the second operation thereonby means of the die sections. Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the cask body as it appears after being subjected to the second expanding operation. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the final expanding operation of the tube. AndFigJ? is an elevatio-nal view of the completed barrel body as it appears following the third or final operation.

The herein described process consists in first cutting out a rectangular blank of metal of suitable gauge having the maximum strength and adapted to be drawn under relatively heavy pressure, and then bending the 1926. Serial No. 109,230.

blank longitudinally into cylindrical form and welding the transverse meeting edges. of the blank to provide a unitary integral cylindrical tube of the type shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The tube thus formed is then uniformly and simultaneously swaged or expanded in the opposite end annular zones 10 and 11, with a minimum of expanding or swaging action upon the material adjacent the extremities of the end portions, and with progressively greater expanding or swaging action upon the metal inwardly from said extremities a pre-determined distance, approximating onefifth of the length of the tubular body at each end thereof, and at the inner extremities of the swaged portions 10 and 11, each of the same is further swaged outwardly simultaneously with the swaging'of the end portions to form the outwardly extending annular corrugations 13 and 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The dies for accomplishing the above simultaneous swagingof the end zones of the cylindrical tube preferably consist of a pluralityof elongated die sections 15, segmental in cross section, and radially disposed about the longitudinal central axis of the tube, and of a length corresponding approximately to the length of the cylindrical tube before the swaging action is begun by the dies. The inner facesof said die sections are provided with longitudinally spaced recesses providing spaced wedge surfaces 16 and 17 adapted to co-act with the longitudinally arranged inter-connecting wedges 18 and 19, whereby longitudinal movement of the wedges 18 and 19 to traverse the wedge surfaces ofv the conical wedge surfaces of the die sections, effects radial movement of the die sections and consequent drawing or expanding of the material at opposite end zones of the tube. The outer face of each die section is provided with longitudinally spaced oppositely tapered enlargements 20 and 21, each of said enlargements terminating at its inner extremity in a rib 22, the ribs of all ofthe die sections 1515 coincidingand forming a rib extending annularly about the die sections. Any suitable means, not shown, may be utilized, if

The partially swaged body shown in Fig.

3 is then subjected to the second operation. Said operation consists in swaging two spaced intermediate zones 23 and 24 by means of suitable dies, the swaging action be1ng carried somewhat farther than occurs in the first operation so as to produce zones 23 and 24;

. which taper in opposite directions, and which are progressively of greater diameter toward the central Zone of the cask or barrel. During the second swaging operation, annular corrugations 25 and26 are formed adjacent the inner extremities of the intermediate zones 1 23 and 24 as most clearly shown 1n Figs. 4

and 5. v

The dies used to accomplish the second operation are practically identically similar to those utilized in connection with the first operation, except that the die sections are of sufliciently less length than the die sections 15-15 so as to space the enlarged portions 27 and 28 a less distance apart in order to cause the same to operate upon the intermediate zones of the barrel body. lVedging means similar to the wedging means 18 and 19 may be used as shown in Fig.

The third step or operation consists 1n swaging or expanding the central zone 29 which is of the character shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and is disposed between the intermediate zones 23 and 24. The central zone 29 is swaged or expanded outwardly to bilged form of somewhat greater diameter than'the end and intermediate zones of thebarrel, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The third operation is accomplished by providing suitable die sections 30 having outer longitudinally disposed arcuate' faces which operate upon the central portion 29, and which die sections are radially expanded by longitudinal movement of the wedge 31 to effect the desired purpose. Suitable heads, not shown, may be utilized for closing the open ends of the barrel body as desired.

The completed barrel body produced as a result of the swaging operations above described comprises a metallic body including a plurality of separately. formed. zoneswhich collectively are arranged in bilged oroblate formation, with integral pressed or formed corrugations 33 and 34 separating the zones 32 32, said corrugations being pressed in the material of which the cask body is made and being of substantially uniform depth and of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the zon'eswith which they are associated.

It will be appreciated that by utilization of the above described processthe cylindrical tube is separately swaged or expanded at a plurality of zones successively, resulting in independent drawing of the metal at pre-determined localized portions while the remainder of the tube is free of pressure, thereby obviating tearing of the metal and weakne'sses which would result from the expanding of the cylindrical tube to the desired bilged form in a single operation.

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferr d' aaner of carrying out the invention, the sameis merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and inodificatins that come within the scope of the claims appended thereto.

I claim:

l. A process of making a bilged cask or barrel body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube consisting in simultaneously and uniformly applying expanding pressure to spaced local annular zones while the re maining portions of said caskor barrel are free from pressure and independently expanding the tube between said spaced zones to a greaer diameter than said spacedzones while the latter are free from pressure.

2. A process of making a bi'lged cask body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube consisting in simultaneously and uniformly applying expanding pressure to spaced annular zones, while the remaining zones are free from pressure; and independently ex panding the tube at spaced annular zones between, said first zones to a greater diameter than thelatter i 2' 3. A process of making a bilged cask body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube consisting, in simultaneously and uniformly applying expanding, pressure to, spaced annular zones, while the remaining zones are freetrom pressure; independently expanding the tube at spaced annular zones between said first zone s to a greater diameter than the latter, and expanding the tube between the second mentioned zones to a greater diameter than the first and second mentioned zones.

l. The process of making a bil ged cask or barrel hody from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube, which consists in applying ex panding pressure to the annular end zonesto produce iseparated end zonesof inwardly in creasing expansion, andin independently ap} plying expanding pressure to the intermedi} ate zone to enlarge the diameter thereof. A i

The process of making a bilg ed cask or barrel body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube, which consists in applying ex panding pressure to the annular endzones. to produce separated endzones of inwardly ins -creasing expansion, andin then independently applying expanding pressure tothe inter mediate zone-tolenlarge the diameter thereof, to an extent at least equalto the diameter-slot the contiguous P io s f previeu ly ex,- 1

6. The process of making a bilged cask or barrel body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube, which consists in simultaneously applying expanding pressure to both end zones to produce separated end zones of inwardly increasing expansion, and in then applying expanding pressure to the intermediate zone to enlarge the diameter thereof.

7 The process of making a bilged cask or 10 barrel body from a substantially cylindrical metallic tube, which consists in simultaneously applying expanding pressure to both end zones to produce separated end zones of inwardly increasing expansion, and in then applying expanding pressure to the intermediate zone to enlarge the diameter thereof, to an extent in its medial portion greater than the diameter of the contiguous portions of the previously expanded end zones.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of April 1926.

ALFRED J. MUHLBACH. 

